PITTSFIELD, Mass. —  Exhibit space is still available at the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's  Business-to-Business Showcase, the largest "B2B" event in the region, slated for Tuesday, Nov. 9. The event, which will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza, is free and open to the public.

The 13th annual showcase gives businesses the opportunity to network with new people, promote their products and services, and show off their business to the community. Exhibit spaces have been priced at $125 for Berkshire Chamber members and $175 for nonmembers. All booth spaces include a six-foot table with linens, and electricity is available upon request.

The Business-to-Business Showcase is sponsored by Berkshire Bank, Legacy Banks, The Berkshire Eagle, North Adams Transcript, WUPE Radio and WBEC Radio.

For more information about the Berkshire Chamber’s Business-to-Business showcase, call 413-499-4000, visit www.berkshirechamber.com or email choyt@berkshirechamber.com.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Enterprises will offer a free business breakfast forum on "Are You Getting the Information You Need to Successfully Manage Your Business?" on Friday, Oct. 29, from 7:30 to 9.

It will be held in the third-floor boardroom at One Fenn St. It will be led by Steve Fogel, program director of Berkshire Enterprises, and Joe Gelinas, a consultant to small businesses specializing in process improvement.

The forum will focus on assessing measurement systems such as cash and inventory controls. As small businesses seek to survive and grow, owners and managers need to periodically review the information they are gathering to make sure that have sufficient information to identify the risks and minimize their impact on your business.

The forums are made possible through support from Greylock Federal Credit Union, Legacy Banks, Berkshire Bank, TD Bank, and the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank in space provided by CompuWorks. Berkshire Enterprises is a program of the Office for Workforce Development at Berkshire Community College.

To register, contact Fogel at sfogel@berkshireenterprises.com or leave a message at 413-236-2141. Space is limited and reservations are required.
 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Mezze Bistro + Bar has been recognized by Fodor’s Travel as a 2010 Fodor’s Choice selection. The travel review resource distinguishes Mezze as a leader in its field for service, quality and value.
 
Since 1988, Fodor’s Travel has been awarding the Fodor’s Choice distinction to the best hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world. Every year, Fodor’s writers experience, examine and evaluate thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in their travels. While every business included in a Fodor’s guide is deemed worth a traveler’s time, only 15 percent of those selections are awarded a Fodor’s Choice designation by Fodor’s editors.

“From hidden-away restaurants to can't-miss museums, Fodor’s Choice selections recognize the top sights, properties and experiences our editors and updaters have found in their travels,” said Fodor’s publisher Tim Jarrell in a statement sent by Mezze to iBerkshires Oct. 7. “These places are the best of the best, providing a remarkable experience in their price range or category.”

As a 2010 Fodor’s Choice recipient, Mezze Bistro + Bar receives special recognition in the current Fodor’s guidebook to this region and on Fodors.com.

“We’re really excited to be given this honor by Fodor’s Travel,” said Nancy Thomas, founder and proprietor of Mezze Restaurant Group. “Our new location is primed for guests to come and explore our beautiful rural setting and to sample our seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine and we look forward to welcoming Fodor’s travelers to our new home.”

To see Fodor's review of Mezze, click here.

LEE, Mass. — Springfield-based supermarket chain Big Y Foods, Inc., has paid $4.25 million for 9.8 acres of property on which it intends to build a new store.

The site, situated between Exit 2 of the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Lee Prime Outlets, was originally home to Diesel Dan’s Travel Complex.

Colebrook Realty Services, Inc. brokered the sale of the property and its improvements.  Colebrook Principals B. John Dill and Mitch Bolotin represented the seller, NortherEdge/Plant One Realty Trust.  According to documents filed in the Registration of Deeds, the closing date was Sept 20.

Big Y plans to develop a 48,000 square-foot supermarket on the site, with 5,000 square feet of additional retail space. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously on Sept. 1 in  favor of the construction, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the year.

“We are excited to be one step closer to building a Big Y World Class Market in Lee as we continue to move forward with our plans to open this market to better affect customer service strategy for South County,” said Charles L. D'Amour, President and COO of Big Y Foods, Inc., in a statement released by Colebrook today, Oct. 7.

The sale of the property is part of a broader portfolio restructuring on the part of F.L. Roberts & Company, Inc.

According to Steven M. Roberts, President of F.L. Roberts & Company, Inc., “Along came our repurchase opportunity for some of our formerly owned Sunoco station and Colebrook Realty was instrumental in providing a key element to our asset shuffling strategy: a timely Purchase and Sale Agreement with Big Y.  Mitch and Jack did an excellent job in a difficult real estate market.”

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pine Cone Hill is moving and expanding its popular outlet store.

The current outlet located in Lenox will reopen in Anne Selke Companies' 200,000 square-foot headquarters at 125 Peck's Road. Additionally, the company is launching Pineconehilloutlet.com with the intention of bringing its outlet merchandise to a national audience.

According to a statement released Wednesday, the move "will help to streamline the company's activities during a period of growth and expansion in other areas of the businesses."

The outlet will be a bit larger than the current Pine Cone Hill: The Home Store's 6,000 square feet. The store opened in the former Lenox Shops, now known as Aspinwall, in 2002. The company bought the old textile mill on Peck's Road, previously the home of Interprint, in 2005 for $2.7 million and refurbished it.

The Berkshires-grown Annie Selke Companies includes Dash & Albert Rug Co., Pine Cone Hill, Potluck Studios and licensed furniture and fabric lines under the name Annie Selke Home. Pineconehill.com launched its consumer site in July of this year, and Dashandalbert.com launched in March 2009. The launch of the Pinecone Hill site is the third direct-to-consumer website launch in less than 18 months.

The move from the highly visible location on the Lenox Road to Peck's Road may leave patrons stumped but the company plans to help its customers find their way to Pittsfield.

"We will be doing advertising and sending mailers to our return customers," said Jessica Fitzgerald, assistant to president and founder Anne Selke, on Wednesday. The new online outlet is also expected to bring the mainly wholesale company greater visibility. "Just being able to sell outlet merchandise nationally will be a huge step."

The Lenox outlet will remain open through December. The store and its employees will then move to the new location, slated to open Jan. 5. The company said the focus of the store will be outlet-oriented but that the entire line of Pine Cone Hill bedding and sleepwear, as well as Dash and Albert Rugs will be available for special order. The store's hours will be Wednesday through Saturday, 9 to 5. Anything purchased at the Home Store during the holiday season can be returned at the new factory outlet after it opens in January.

The outlet store isn't the company's only new appearance in Pittsfield. Annie Selke Home furniture collection from Vanguard Furniture will now be available at furniture store Paul Rich & Sons at 242 North St.

"I'm thrilled that my collection will now be available at Paul Rich. They are the best in the business. Their service is unparalleled and I know our furniture fans will be in excellent hands. Plus, they are right around the corner, so I can visit my pieces often," said Selke, in the press release.

A moving sale will kick off with the annual Columbus Day Tent Sale starting Thursday, Oct. 7, and extending through Sunday, Oct. 17. Tent sales will continue with future locations to be announced.

For more information about Annie Selke Companies, go to www.annieselke.com..